RE: Driving Age Set To Rise To Prevent Road Casualties
Monday 6th August 2007
17? These will be your best friend for a whole yearLearner drivers are to be banned from taking their test until they’re 18, under new government proposals.
Driving Age Set To Rise To Prevent Road Casualties
No solo driving until you're 18, says government
17? These will be your best friend for a whole year
The plan is to allow young people to start learning at 17, but not allow them to take their test until they turn 18.
In addition to these new plans, new drivers would also adhere to a zero booze limit, preventing any “I’ll just have the one” antics.
Although drivers under 25 only account for one in eight license holders, statistics show they account for a third of drivers killed in crashes and nearly half of all drivers killed at night.
Politician Jim Fitzpatrick commented: “We want to send out a message that passing your test and driving is not just a bit of fun. It carries responsibilities regarding the safety of themselves, passengers and road users, including pedestrians.”
It was also noted that the laws for learning to ride a motorcycle would have to change; otherwise young people would swap four wheels for two.
Discussion
Good idea, I was an appaling driver after I passed my test (i'm great now, of course) partly due to inexperience of driving but mostly down to being an idiot 'cos I was to young to know better (also experience I suppose but of a different kind)
When my brother passes his test we have banned him from having music in the car or taking passengers.
When my brother passes his test we have banned him from having music in the car or taking passengers.
do these rules come into practice?!!!!
I saw something about this on the TV a few weeks ago. A 'spokeswoman' was saying that something had to be done to reduce the number of young drivers killed or seriously injured. And the proposal was to raise the driving age from 17 to 18. So all I see that changing is the number of 17-year olds killed or seriously injured.
Worryingly though, there was a quote from a young driver on the BBC News website, who said that two of her friends had been killed in (separate) car crashes, but you just have to get on with things, don't you? She seemed to think that it was perfectly normal to have had a couple of mates killed in car crashes...
Worryingly though, there was a quote from a young driver on the BBC News website, who said that two of her friends had been killed in (separate) car crashes, but you just have to get on with things, don't you? She seemed to think that it was perfectly normal to have had a couple of mates killed in car crashes...
varsas said:
They should have stricter rules regarding accidents. If someone drives into the back of someone else, or wraps their car round a tree they should be banned for a month or get 9 points or something. I think those are much worse offences then doing 41mph in a 30 limit.
sounds like you were done for 41 in a 30.. fair cop I say 
now 81 on a motorway I would agree shouldnt be punished... but hey ho, its all relative
carl_w said:
Worryingly though, there was a quote from a young driver on the BBC News website, who said that two of her friends had been killed in (separate) car crashes, but you just have to get on with things, don't you? She seemed to think that it was perfectly normal to have had a couple of mates killed in car crashes...
Why is that worrying? I'm sure this girl in question didn't just shrug it off her shoulders as you imply. I can't imagine anyone would. My partner has the same happen to one of her closest friends who had not been driving for long. It upset her greatly, and still does, but her attitude now would be to move on. She is not going to spend the rest of her life stuck on this moment. It does not mean there wasn't great suffering from friends and family as a result of the accident.carl_w said:
I saw something about this on the TV a few weeks ago. A 'spokeswoman' was saying that something had to be done to reduce the number of young drivers killed or seriously injured. And the proposal was to raise the driving age from 17 to 18. So all I see that changing is the number of 17-year olds killed or seriously injured.
Worryingly though, there was a quote from a young driver on the BBC News website, who said that two of her friends had been killed in (separate) car crashes, but you just have to get on with things, don't you? She seemed to think that it was perfectly normal to have had a couple of mates killed in car crashes...
I think a lot of young people around that age get killed and injured. It's basically down to the first flush of independence together with an adventurous lifestyle. What are you going to do?? Ban fun?? Danger tends to go along with it and when that age is reached no parent or Governement is going to stop them.Worryingly though, there was a quote from a young driver on the BBC News website, who said that two of her friends had been killed in (separate) car crashes, but you just have to get on with things, don't you? She seemed to think that it was perfectly normal to have had a couple of mates killed in car crashes...
it is intriguing to me that different countries have different age limits, for driving and so many other things too, so whose to say who is right, the other factor appears to be inexperience, makes me wonder if it is this combined with younger age potentially leads to more accidents, or if we would just end up moving the democratic up, so more 18 year olds die in road accidents etc.
Fusion-Ed said:
Why is that worrying? I'm sure this girl in question didn't just shrug it off her shoulders as you imply. I can't imagine anyone would.
It certainly comes across that way to me:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6904821.stm
BBC News said:
Lauren Coles, 18, from Spalding in Lincolnshire, told the BBC News website: "This is stupid. I've been driving over a year now and I need my driving licence because I live in the middle of nowhere.
"I've lost two friends in accidents but I wouldn't change the law on the driving age."
Lost two friends, but no change to the law as it's inconvenient for her location. "I've lost two friends in accidents but I wouldn't change the law on the driving age."
Edited by carl_w on Monday 6th August 13:28
I think this is the right thing to do, having lessons for a year will make better drivers. But something has be said about elderly drivers!
My nan, love her and all but we she was becoming a shocking driver. She hardly had any strength in her hands (couldn't use the hand brake,etc..). She was crashing or bumping her car on a monthly basis. And we had no legal way of stopping her driving... the doctor wouldn't stop her, the police couldn't stop her and it was really only a matter of time before she was going to kill herself or another person.
Thankfully she saw sense after months of the family convincing her to stop.... when will the law be tightened up to stop old people driving or enforce a test at 70 - 75?
My nan, love her and all but we she was becoming a shocking driver. She hardly had any strength in her hands (couldn't use the hand brake,etc..). She was crashing or bumping her car on a monthly basis. And we had no legal way of stopping her driving... the doctor wouldn't stop her, the police couldn't stop her and it was really only a matter of time before she was going to kill herself or another person.
Thankfully she saw sense after months of the family convincing her to stop.... when will the law be tightened up to stop old people driving or enforce a test at 70 - 75?
Edited by twin sparky on Monday 6th August 13:30
RedCabbage said:
10 year licensing for everyone.
Reduces casualties
Reduces Congestion
Frees the road of the imcompetent, dangerous, ignorant drivers that we all see everyday.
Horseshit. All this will do is ensure that there are 10x the number of unlicenced drivers drving around. Do you really think that the incompentent, dangerous & ignorant drivers give a crap about actually having a licence?Reduces casualties
Reduces Congestion
Frees the road of the imcompetent, dangerous, ignorant drivers that we all see everyday.
Andy
twin sparky said:
I think this is the right thing to do, having lessons for a year will make better drivers. But something has be said about elderly drivers!
My nan, love her and all but we she was becoming a shocking driver. She hardly had any strength in her hands (couldn't use the hand brake,etc..). She was crashing or bumping her car on a monthly basis. And we had no legal way of stopping her driving... the doctor wouldn't stop, the police couldn't stop her and it was really only a matter of time before she was going to kill herself or another person.
Thankfully she saw sense after months of the family convincing her to stop.... when will the law be tightened up to stop old people driving or enforce a test at 70 - 75?
See my 10 year licensing comment above.My nan, love her and all but we she was becoming a shocking driver. She hardly had any strength in her hands (couldn't use the hand brake,etc..). She was crashing or bumping her car on a monthly basis. And we had no legal way of stopping her driving... the doctor wouldn't stop, the police couldn't stop her and it was really only a matter of time before she was going to kill herself or another person.
Thankfully she saw sense after months of the family convincing her to stop.... when will the law be tightened up to stop old people driving or enforce a test at 70 - 75?
Gassing Station | Motoring News | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff